Tomba
Welcome to Mereto di Tomba!
Hello everyone! Today I'd like to take you on a tour of Mereto di Tomba, a small municipality with a population of 2535 located in the central high plain of Friuli. This town consists of five hamlets, one locality and the main town of Mereto. If you're wondering where the town gets its name from, "Mereto" comes from Melereto or Melareto, which means "place where apples are grown". Interesting, isn't it?
The History of Mereto
Like every town, Mereto di Tomba has an interesting history. The main town of Mereto was originally built on a hill fort, where later on Roman legionaries and settlers settled and devoted themselves to agriculture. In 2008, archaeological excavations uncovered the entire skeleton of an important personality dating back to the beginning of the second millennium BC. Historical documents have testified to the name change from "Mereti tumbae" to "Mereto di Tomba", after the discovery of an ancient tomb possibly dating back to the hill fort period.
Subsequently, Friuli was hit by Barbarian invasions, but Mereto, like the rest of the region, had a period of peace under the patriarchate of Aquileia. During those years, the "Muro di cortina" (Curtain Wall) was built, fortresses where the population sought refuge in times of danger.
In 1420, Mereto was ceded to the Republic of Venice, but in 1499 it was invaded by the Turks who destroyed and looted the entire town. In 1815, the territory became part of the Lombard-Veneto Kingdom, which was dependent on the Austrian Empire, and the hamlets lost their autonomy in 1816.
The Hamlets and the Roman Necropolis
As I mentioned earlier, Mereto is made up of five hamlets: Plasencis, Savalons, San Marco, Tomba and Pantianicco. Each one has its own history and uniqueness.
But let's get to the most interesting part for archaeology enthusiasts: the discovery of a stone funerary urn in 2006, indicating the presence of an important Roman necropolis located along the Concordia-Noricum road. Even today it is possible to walk along sections of this road that skirt the Tombare and a Roman funerary area called Baraciuts, which is also of great importance.
Conclusion
I have enjoyed sharing with you the history and uniqueness of Mereto di Tomba. This town is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, both for its archaeological remains and for the beauty of the landscape. I look forward to the next trip to discover the wonders of Italy!
